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    	  |  | My Shangri-la: I spent 2 weeks in the mystic Buddhist kingdom of Tibet and it is everything I expected and more. 
			The landscape and architecture are colorful, exotic and dazzling and the people are extremely friendly. 
 
  Potala Pilgrim
 Prostrating pilgrim in front of the majestic and awe-inspiring Potala Palace.
 
 Lhasa · Tibet | 2007
 
 
  Potala Palace
 Reach for the Potala, the Palace for the Dalai Lamas.
 
 Lhasa · Tibet | 2007
 
 
  Festive Potala
 Festive flowers decorate the access road to the Potala Palace ahead of the National Day celebration.
 
 Lhasa · Tibet | 2007
 
 
  Jokhang Pilgrim
 30 year-old monk from Gantsezhou pays his respect at Jokhang.
 
 Lhasa · Tibet | 2007
 
 
  Heavenly Jokhang
 Talisman guarding the rooftop of Jokhang, the most revered religious
icon of Tibet where hundreds of prostrating pilgrams gathers everyday.
 
 Lhasa · Tibet | 2007
 
 
  Window on the World
 A young monk takes a peek at the outside world from his room at
Drepung, at one time the largest monastery in the world with over
10,000 monks and left unscathed during the Cultural Revolution.
 
 Lhasa · Tibet | 2007
 
 
  Prayer Flags at Namtso
 Colorful prayer flags flutter in the wind at the 5,190 meter high Lakenla Pass on the way to Namtso Lake.
 
 Namtso · Tibet | 2007
 
 
  Pilgrimage to Namtso
 20 year old Yamaluobu from Lhasa spins his prayer wheel during his pilgramage at Namtso Lake.
 
 Namtso · Tibet | 2007
 
 
  Heavenly Lake
 At 4,718 meters, the sacred Namtso Lake, the second largest saltwater
lake in China, shimmers with a fabulous shade of turquoise.
 
 Namtso · Tibet | 2007
 
 
  Best-preserved Monastery
 The impressive Tashilhunpo, seat of the Panchen Lama, has weathered the stormy Cultural Revolution unscathed.
 
 Shigatse · Tibet | 2007
 
 
  Down the Cobbled Path
 An old monk walked down the cobble-stone path of Tashilhunpo Monastery.
 
 Shigatse · Tibet | 2007
 
 
  Tutelage under Dalai Lama
 20 year-old Penza (not his real name) studies his Buddhist scriptures
with the forbidden picture of the 14th Dalai Lama prominently on display.
 
 Lhasa	 · Tibet | 2007
 
 
  Chorten of 100,000 Images
 The stunning 35-meter Gyantse Kumbum houses exqusite Tibetan mural
paintings and images over four floors. The gold dome rises crown-like
over four sets of all-seeing eyes gazing out towards the cardinal
points.
 
 Gyantse	 · Tibet | 2007
 
 
  Eyes in the Sky
 The all-seeing eyes gaze serenely from the top of the Gyantse Kumbum.
 
 Gyantse · Tibet | 2007
 
 
  Exqusite Chorten
 One of the many exqusitely-built chorten with delicate images in the Gyantse Kumbum.
 
 Gyantse · Tibet | 2007
 
 
  Sky Burial Site
 A pilgrim surveys the sky burial site at the Lower Ganden Kora (pilgrimage circuit).
 
 Ganden	 · Tibet | 2007
 
 
  Axe and Knives
 An axe, some knives and hata (white scarf offering to show respect) from the previous ceremony at the sky burial site.
 
 Ganden · Tibet | 2007
 
 
  Circling Vulture
 One of the vultures circling above the sky burial site near the Ganden Monastery.
 
 Ganden · Tibet | 2007
 
 
  Tibetan Girl
 A young Tibetan girl marveling at the Ganden Monastery while on a pilgrimage there with her parents.
 
 Ganden · Tibet | 2007
 
 
  World's Highest Railway
 The record-shattering, yak-scaring engineering feat that pass thru plateaux and snow-capped mountains of Qinghai and Tibet.
 
 Xining to Lhasa · Tibet | 2007
 
 
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